Catalogue
Lydia, uncertain king, issued before 561 B.C. and probably c.575 B.C., electrum trite or third stater, (4.69 grams) of Lydian-Milesian (Phoenician standard), probably issued at Sardis, obv. head of roaring lion to right, knob with trace of three rays on forehead, rev. double incuse punch, (S.3398, BMC 7 [p.2], Weidauer Class XVI, SNG Cop. 449-451, ACNAC Rosen 231, ACNAC Dewing 2421-3). Countermark on cheek, very fine and rare.
Estimate $2,000
SOLD $1,650
Nero, (A.D. 54-68), gold aureus, Lugdunum mint, (7.60 grams), issued A.D. 61-62, obv. bare head of Nero to right, around NERO CAESAR AVG IMP, rev. Virtus standing to left foot on arms, holding parazonium and spear, across EX SC, around PONTIF MAX TR P VIII COS IIII P P, (cf.S.1938 [denarius], RIC 31, BMC 33). Minor edge nick, otherwise nearly very fine and very rare.
Estimate $2,500
SOLD $4,200
Faustina Senior, wife of Antoninus Pius, (d.A.D. 141), issued 142, gold aureus, Rome mint, (7.17 grams), obv. DIVA AVGVSTA FAVSTINA around, draped bust of Faustina to right, rev. no legend, Vesta standing left holding torch and sceptre, (S.4565, RIC 403, BMC 338, C.299). Has been mounted with minor edge scrapes, otherwise very fine and rare.
Estimate $1,600
SOLD $0
Valens (A.D. 364-378), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 367-375, (4.41 grams), obv. rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right of Valens around DN VALEN S PF AVG, rev. Valens standing facing head to right, holding labarum with chi-rho symbol and Victory, RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE around, *CONS wreath in exergue (S.4104, RIC 25b [R3], C.34). With broken loop support, mounted and damaged, otherwise fine and a very rare variety.
Estimate $200
SOLD $100
Theodosius II, (A.D. 402-450), gold solidus, Thessalonica mint, issued A.D. c.408-430 (4.33 grams), obv. rosette and pearl diademed bust draped and cuirassed of Theodosius facing slightly to right, holding sword over shoulder, around D N THEODO SIVS P F AVG, rev. GLOR ORVI S TERRAR around, emperor standing facing holding standard, and cross on globe, TESOB in exergue, (cf.S.4288, RIC 362). With file marks on edge and slightly creased, otherwise very fine and rare.
Estimate $450
SOLD $470
Theodosius II, (A.D. 402-450), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued A.D. c.425, obv. helmeted and cuirassed bust of Theodosius facing with spear and shield, around D N THEODO SIVS P F AVG, rev. SALVD REI PVBLICAE Theodosius enthroned and Valentinian standing facing both in consular robes, star above, CONOB in exergue, (S.4289, RIC 1324). Double struck on both sides, otherwise extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $600
SOLD $650
Leo I, (A.D. 457-474), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, Officina I, (4.422 grams), obv. Leo three-quarter facing bust, wearing cuirass, paludamentum and crown, holding spear and shield, around DN LEO PE RP ET AVC, rev. Victory standing to left, in right hand holding long cross, in right field a star, around VICTORI A AVGGG I, in exergue CONOB, (S.4333, RIC 605). Slightly crinkled, heavy scratch on the obverse, worn face, otherwise very fine.
Estimate $450
SOLD $400
Tiberius II Constantine, (A.D.578-582), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.226 grams), issued 579-582, Officina H, obv. crowned and cuirassed bust of Tiberius II facing, holding shield and globe surmounted by cross, D m TIb CONS TANT P P AVI around, rev. VICTORI A AVCCH around, cross potent on four steps, in exergue CONOB, (S.422, DOC 4e, BMC 4, T. 5, R.917). Obverse scratch, evidence of clipping, good very fine.
Estimate $450
SOLD $400
Maurice Tiberius, (A.D.582-602), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.272 grams), Officina **D*, obv. helmeted with plume, draped and cuirassed bust of Maurice Tiberius facing, of narrow aspect, holding globe surmounted by cross, D N MAVRC TIb PP AVI around, rev. VICTORI A AVCCB, around, CONOB in exergue, Angel standing facing holding long staff surmounted by P with cross, and cross on globe, (S.478, DOC.5b, T.10, R.998). With full broad flan flattened near edge, otherwise good very fine, scarce.
Estimate $450
SOLD $400
Phocas, (A.D. 602-610), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.488 grams), issued A.D. 607-610, Officina E, obv. Phocas facing bust, bearded, wearing cuirass, paludamentum and crown, holding cross, around dNN (sic) FOCAS PERP AV, rev. Angel facing, holding in right hand long staff, with partial chi-rho symbol at top, in left hand globe with cross above, around VICTORIA AVGU E, (S.620, DOC 10e.6-7, cf.BMC 6-7, cf.T.9, R.-). Broad flan, weak in places, full weight and extremely fine.
Estimate $600
SOLD $400
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, issued 632-635, Constantinople mint, Officina E, (4.454 grams), Class IVA(a), obv. standing figures of Heraclius in centre, Heraclius Constantine on left, and Heraclonas on right, cross above, rev. Cross potent on three steps, monogram to to left, A in right field, around VICTORIA AVGUB, CONOB in exergue, (S.764, DOC 39d, BMC 63 = T. (392 or 394), R.-). Slightly off centred, good very fine and rare.
Estimate $500
SOLD $400
Constans II, (641-668), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued c.654-659, Class IV, Officina H, (4.360 grams), obv. facing long bearded bust of Constans wearing chlamys and crown with cross on top, Constantine IV on right wearing crown, cross in field, around [dN CONST]ANTINUS C CONSTANTIN, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGUH, (S.959, DOC.25h, BMC 43, T.249, R.1590). As struck with mint bloom, extremely fine or better.
Estimate $900
SOLD $650
Basil I, the Macedonian, with Constantine, (A.D.867-886), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued from A.D. 868-879, (4.41 grams), obv. Christ enthroned facing bust wearing nimbus, raising right hand in benediction, also holding Gospels, + IhS XPS REX REgNANTIUm around, rev. bASILIOS ET CONSTANTI AVGG b around, facing busts of Basil bearded on left, Constantine beardless on right, between them the patriarchal cross, (S.1704, R.1858, DOC 2, BMC.2). As struck, extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $1,800
SOLD $0
Constantine X, (A.D.1059-1067), gold histamenon nomisma (Scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.284 grams), obv. Christ seated facing on throne with straight arms, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IhS XIS REX REgNANTInm around, rev. +KWN RAC **L D*OVKAC, around standing figure of Constantine facing, bearded, wearing crown, saccos and loros, holding labarum no pellet on shaft and globe with cross, (S.1847, DOC 1a, BMC 3, R.2010). Very fine, scarce.
Estimate $450
SOLD $0
Nicephorus III, (A.D.1078-1081), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.61 grams), obv. bearded Christ enthroned no back, facing, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border, rev. +NIKH**F D*EC T W ROTANIAT, around bust of Nicophorus facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum with X on shaft and globe with cross, (S.1881, DOC 3, BMC 7-11, R.2051-2). Good bust of bearded Christ, good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $400
SOLD $0
Alexius III, Angelus-Commenus, (A.D. 1195-1203), gold hyperpyron, Constantinople mint, (4.326 grams), obv. Christ standing, facing on dais, wearing nimbus etc, to left KERO upwards and to right H**Q*EI, rev. Alexius and St. Constantine bearded holding long patriarchal cross between the, with traces of legend around right side, (S.2008, Hendy plate 22, 3, BMC 3-6, R.2199). Extremely fine and very scarce.
Estimate $800
SOLD $0
John III Ducas called Vatatzes, Empire of Nicaea, (A.D. 1222/3-1254), gold hyperpyron nomisma, Magnesia mint, (4.228 grams), second coinage transitional to late style, issued 1232-1254, obv. Christ enthroned facing nimbate, raising hand, IC XC either side of head, three dots to right above throne, rev. John standing left being crowned by the Virgin Mary, to left and right traces of legend, (S.2073, DOC (9c), Vol.4, [not illustrated], cf.l.32, 3-5, an example was in a Glendining Auction 24.1.1945 [lot 74] and two others in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum). Holed, extremely fine and very rare, double struck on obverse, coin being struck from three dies.
Estimate $300
SOLD $0